Matrix rolling machine



March 27, 1956 W, F HUCK MATRIX ROLLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1952 FIG. 1 BY March 27, 1956 w. F. HucK MATRIX ROLLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1952 FlG.4

March 27, 1956 W. F. HUCK 2,739,527

MATRIX ROLLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. HUCK United States Patent MATRIX ROLLING MAcHmE William F. Huck, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application May 6, 1952, Serial No. 286,350 z claims. (ci. 101-12) This invention relates to machines for the preparation or forming of matrices for printing purposes and commonly referred to in the printing art as matrix rolling machines.

The object of the invention is the provision of an improved matrix rolling machine designed and adapted to eliminate certain limitations and disadvantages prevalent in existing types of matrix rolling machines.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a matrix rolling machine having a dual roller support for the matrix-supporting table that is effective to prevent tilting of the table in its operating movements.

Another object is to provide a matrix rolling machine wherein the entire table is supported and guided by top and bottom pairs of rollers that coact to maintain the table in horizontal alignment while its possible movements sidewise are prevented by lateral guiding rollers.

A further object is to provide a matrix-rolling machine of generally improved design and construction whereby the device will be comparatively simple and durable, as well as convenient, serviceable and eicient in use.

In the preparation of matrices for printing purposes, the material or ilong, as it is commonly called, of which the matrix is composed, is pressed into the printing surfaces of an operative assembly of type clamped in a chase and under a superimposed soft blanket that is engaged by an overhead pressure-applying roller. The chase, with its prearranged type, is supported on a movable table or bed forming a part of a matrix rolling machine. The movable table itself is engaged on its under surface, in accordance with present day practice, by a single bracing or supporting roller that is intended to brace the table as it moves with the hong-covered type beneath the upper or matrix-engaging roller.

The present day practice of bracing the movable table of matrix rolling machines by a single bottom roller, has a serious disadvantage in that the resultant of the cornparatively heavy pressure exerted by the upper or overhead matrix-engaging roller, does not pass directly downward, but to one side and principally to that side of the table opposite to its direction of motion. As a consequence of this, the table tends to exert considerable pressure upon the lateral guide rollers on either side of the underneath bracing roller, thereby appreciably deilecting the latter and causing the table to correspondingly drop.

It will be apparent from the above that the guide rollers, as heretofore mentioned, prevalent in existing matrix rolling machines, must yield suiciently to permit such deflection of the underneath roller without causing excessive wear on the side rollers.

In accordance with an importantA feature of this invention, the movable table is supported .on two rollers which are spaced far enough apart to permit the resultant pressure line to pass centrally .between their respective axes. This construction effectively eliminates the tendency of the movable table to tilt as it travels from one side to the other. In conventional machines, the weight of the 2,739,527' Patented Mar. 27, 1956 table tends to incline it downwardly alternately on one side and then on the other side.

As indicated above, the entire table of the machine of this invention is supported solely by two rollers on the bottom, and maintained rmly in its horizontal position therein by two auxiliary marginal rollers on top that hold it rmly against the two main lower rollers. The table, in its reciprocating movements, is guided by two other auxiliary rollers that prevent any deviation from its normal path of parallelism with its longitudinal axis and while in contact with the matrix-engaging roller.

Other objects and Iadvantages residing in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the novel design and construction, will appear as the description proceeds and will be best understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the invention, showing the matrix-engaging roller in contact with a chase and its type during the process of forming a matrix therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 2 2 of Figure l and as seen in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional detail view, of parts connected to and adjacent the right hand side of the movable table that carries the chase and matrix;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmental, elevational view, as seen in the direction of the .arrows 5 5 of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2, but with the movable table and certain other parts removed for clarity of illustration; and showing the means employed for varying the belt tension and consequently the effective engagement of the matrix-engaging roller with the matrix;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional view, taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6, and as seen in the direction of the arrows;

-Fig. 8 is an elevational detail view of the means for actuating the limit switches that operate to restrict the travel of the table; and

Fig. 9 is a reduced elevational view of the movable table, pressure cylinder, rollers, matrix and chase, but with the frames and certain other parts removed for clarity of illustration.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the views, 11 and 12 designate side frames reinforced and connected at their lower ends by braces 13, 14; and at their upper portions by .a brace 15 having a flange 15a suitably secured to the said side frames.

The lower ends of the side frames 11, 12 have angle members 11a, 12a, respectively secured thereto. These angle members have adjusting screws, as at 16, resting on base plates 17, 18 in turn seated on the ground or floor. The adjusting screws 16, it will be understood, serve to level the entire machine and provide a compensation for any unevenness of the base support for the machine.

Between the side frames 11, 12 is a motor 19 having its ilanges 20 fastened, as by the screws 21, to the side frame 11. The shaft'22 of the motor 19 is provided with a pinion 23 which meshes with a gear 24 keyed to a shaft 25 and spaced from the side frame 11 by a washer 26 abutting a bearing 27 secured in the same side frame 11. The gear 24 is removably fastened to the shaft 25 in any suitable manner, as by the screw 28 and washer 29.

The left hand side of the shaft 25, as seen in Figure 2, is shouldered, as at 25a, against which a pinion 30 is normally in abutment, the said pinionv -also-abutting the bearing 27. The pinion 30 is 'keyed to the shaft 25 and meshes -with a gear 31 fast to a roller 32 rotatably arranged in the side frames 11, l2 and beneath a reciprocating or movable table 33.

The right hand portion of the shaft 2S, similarly to the left hand side, has ashoulder, as atlSb, to accommodate a pinion 34 confined between the shoulder '2517 and a bearing 3 5 retained in the side frame i2 by plates 36 bolted to either side of `the frame 12. The pinion 34 meshes with a gear 38 fastened to a roller 39 also rotatably arranged inthe frames V1li and :12 and beneath t-he movable table 33. 'The rollers 32 and 39, as. indicated above, are in Contact with the under side of the table 33 that is movably supported or braced thereby.

The gears 3l and 38 -mesh ywith racks 40, 41 fastened in spaced parallel relation to the bottom of the movable table 33. When vthe gears 31 and 38 are rotated through the intermediary .of the motor 19 and via the chain of gears described above, it will be understood that the table 33 will be moved backwardly or forwardly in accordance with the direction of rot-ation of ythe said gears 31,38.

A pulley 41a is fastened to the outer end of the shaft and spaced from the adjacent side frame 12 by a Washer 4111. The pulley 41a is operatively connected to and drives frictionally an upper matrixengaging roller or cylinder, as hereinafter described.

The movable table 33 is guided in its reciprocating movements between the side frames 11 and 12 by guide rollers 42, 43 retained in the said side frames and engaging the lateral edges of the table. The latter is normally pressed downwardly to a variable degree by presure rollers 44, 4S engaging its marginal portions and mounted on eccentric studs 46, 47 adjustably secured in the side frames il, 12. By turning the said eccentric studs 46, 47, it will be understood the pressure rollers 44, 4S may be moved about the eccentric axes of the studs 46, 47 and thereby be effective to regulate the marginal pressure on the movable table 33 to the desired degree.

Between the upper portions of the side frames 11, 12 a matrix-engaging upper cylinder or roller 48 is arranged that serves to apply pressure frictionally or tangentially to the matrix material resting on the type (not shown) locked in the chase C located on the movable table 33.

The right hand end of the matrix-engaging cylinder 48 pulley dia by a belt 48h. When the shaft 2S is driven by motor 19, the matrix-engaging cylinder 4S will be rotated at a preferred somewhat greater speed than that of the movable table 33.

The matrix-engaging cylinder 4i; has its journals 49, Sil turnaoly received in bearings Si, S2 secured in eccentric bearing boxes 53, 54. The bearings Si, 52 are Aremovably retained in the said bearing boxes by inner and outer plates 55, 56 respectively. rI`he inner plates 55, best shown in Figure 2, are bolted to franges a formed on an adjustable tubular brace S7.

The circular wall of the tubular brace 57 is slotted, as at 57a, to accommodate a manually-operable shaft 53 having a threaded portion 58a that is engaged by threads in an arm 59 and in a nut 60. The arm 59 and nut 60 are prevented from rotating by projections, as at 61, on pivot pieces 61a.

The shaft 58 may be turned by means of hand-wheels, as at 62. The threaded portion 53a of the adjustable shaft 5S, it will be understood, serves to move the arm nut 6d, both of which engage the pivot pieces die that in turn engage the tubular brace 57. When the brace 57 is moved, the inner plates 55 fastened thereto and to the eccentric bearing boxes 53, 54 mentioned above, will angularly move the latter and thus increase or decrease the distance of the matrix-engaging roller 48 relatively to the movable table 33.

The means for varying the effective driving pressure of the matrix-engaging roller 48 comprises a shaft 63 4 turnably supported in bearing brackets 64, 65 fastened to the side frame 12. The shaft 63-is provided withright and left hand threaded portions 63a, 63b engaged in correspondingly threaded elements or nuts 66, 67 that are prevented from rotating by guides, as at 68, 68a fastened to the side frame 12. The outer ends of the shaft 63 are engaged by adjusting collars 69, 70 keyed thereto and fastened by nuts, as at 71.

Coil springs 72, 73 arranged respectively ,on the right hand and left hand threadedportions 63a, 63h of the shaft 63 are conlned between Athe nuts 66, .67 and the collars 74, 75respectively. The outersides of the collars 74, 75 are in abutment with a pair of 'levers or arms 76, 77 (Figure 2) arranged in spaced relation and having their upper ends bifurcated, as at 77a, to freely accommodate the body portion of the shaft 63.

The hubs of the lever arms 76, 77 are turnably mounted on studs, at at 78, fastened to the side frame The lever arms 76, 77'haveturnably mounted thereon, as by the studs 79, S0 idler pulleys 8 1, SZIthat, as ,b tSI Shown in Figure 6, are engaged by the belt 48b that SQI'YeS to drive the pressure roller 48 via 4the pulley 48a. 'i

The desired adjustment or tensioning of -the ,belt .481: is effected by moving the two idler pulleys ,81, 8 2 that are normally in engagment with the said belt. This is accomplished by turning vthe adjusting .Collars 69, 70 .thereby causing the nuts or threaded elements, 67 -to variably compress or relieve `the coil springs 72, 73 vengaged,against collars 74, 75 thus `angling or turning the lever arms 76, 77 that carry the above-,mentioned idler pulleys. Inspection of Figure 6 will show .the .effect caused by vbodily moving the two V`idler pulleys relatively `to theengaged belt 48h. it is to be noted that pulley 41a, belt 481?, .idler pulleys 81, 82 and the matrix-engaging .cylinderv48 .oo n stitute a flexible drive assembly that is designed land adapted to frictionally drive the said matrixengaging cylinder 48 at a somewhat greater surface speednthan that of the traveling table. The pressure .cylinder v48 -;it self is adapted to frictionally and tangentiaJly/engageythe matrix-forming material on the Vtable 33 and assume the diiferent surface speeds the latter may :acquire indicating means to denote the extent of the-movement or adjustment of the matrixengaging cylinder '5,48 with respect to the table 33 includes anendless fcalibratedtape 83 supported ontwo reels 84, 34a rotatably lmounted on studs, as at 85, fastened to thetop'brace 15. The lape's passes through al slot 459o inthe arm 59 and .is retaine to the latter by clamps, as at :8 6.

When either of the two hand-wheels 62 is tturnedito rotate the shaft 5 8 in order to move the arm 59andtnut 60 and therefore brace S7, the eccentric ybearing.boxes S3, S4 attached yto the latterwillbodily move the limatrixengaging roller 4 8 towards or away from the table y:33, f

thus varying the tangential and/.orffrictional pressure t0 be applied to the .type with itszmatrix.

The -movement of the calibrated tape ps3-as itzmoves with the arm 59 and consequently of thesllpper cylinder 4S, may be shown by an indicating 4 needle 1 87 fastned to the brace 1S .and denoting the markings of thefsaid tape as seen through asight-glass 87a i n order-toshow the actual 4movement of the matrix-engaging cylinder When the shaft 2 2 ofthe motor 1 9 rotates, thematrixengaging cylinder 48, as mentioned above, willrotate at a surface speed somewhat greater than that of the table and ofthe material thereon and, by virtue of the ilegible drive assembly, may assumegthe different surface .speeds of the said material when i tengages s ame. 'The motori 19 is controlled from a push-'bnttonstation'sb that-may be'operated to start the movement of the table '33 in eitherI direction within limits dened by two limit switches 88, 89, as -follows:

Attached to either of the oppositends of thetablej' are -two Aabutments or stops, Ione of 'which is llustrated, as at 91. vThese-stops 'are kaclaptejd robe alternately 'tre gaged by a pair of bell crank levers 92, 93 fastened to a rock shaft 94 having lever arms 95, 96 attached thereon. The lever arm 95 is engage `tble by a limit switch 88, while lever arm 96 is adapted to engage the other limit switch 89.

When one of the push-buttons of the station 87bV is operated, the motor 19 will be energized through an electric circuit (not shown) and the table 33 will travel until one of the abutments, for example abutment 91 is contacted by the bell crank lever 92, thus stopping the table by breaking the electric circuit to the motor 19 via the limit switch 89 through the intermediary of the lever arm 96. The table 33 may now be reversed by operating the other push-button of the station 87, in which event the other abutment (not shown) will be engaged by bell crank lever 93 thus moving lever arm 95 to operate limit switch 88. The application of the matrix-engaging cylinder 48 to the Hong-covered type in the chase C, as the table 33 moves thereunder, has been indicated above.

Figure 9 illustrates the manner in which the resultant pressure line from the upper matrix-engaging cylinder 48 passes downwardly and to the left in the direction of line a as the table 33 with chase C and matrix m moves in the direction indicated by arrow a. The resultant pressure line will have the direction shown by line b when the table moves in the direction of arrow b'. It will be noted that the pressure line always remains between contact points p and p. As mentioned above, this construction forms a salient feature of the invention since, in combination with the other coacting components, it assures the fabrication of an accurate matrix.

It is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is accordingly desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description, to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. In a matrix-rolling machine of the kind described, in combination, a frame, a table movably mounted in the frame and having rack means secured thereto, a pair of rollers arranged in the frame and engaging the under side of the table, said rollers having gears fastened thereto, said gears engaging the rack means, a pressure cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame, said pressure cylinder having its longitudinal axis arranged in a plane parallel to and centrally between the longitudinal axes of said pair of rollers, a motor connected to the frame and having a gear, gear and shaft means mechanically connected to and associating the gear on the motor with the gears on the pair of rollers, a friction-belt assembly supported on the frame and mechanically connected to the motor and the pressure cylinder, a pair of stop members fastened to the ends of the table, and lever means engageable by said stop members, said lever means being mechanically connectible to limit switches, each of said limit switches when engaged by said stops, being effective to deenergize the motor and thereby stop movement of the said table.

2. In a matrix-rolling machine of the kind described, in combination, a frame, a table movably mounted in the frame and having rack means secured thereto, a pair of rollers arranged in the frame and engaging the under side of the table, said rollers having gears fastened thereto, said gears engaging the rack means, a pressure cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame and over the said table, said pressure cylinder having its longitudinal axis arranged in a plane parallel to and centrally between the longitudinal axes ot said pair of rollers, a motor connected to the frame and having a gear, gear and shaft means mechanically connected to and associating the gear on the motor with the gears on the pair of rollers, a friction-belt assembly supported on the frame and mechanically connected to the motor and the pressure cylinder, adjustable eccentric bearing boxes arranged on the frame and rotatably supporting said pressure cylinder, a plurality of eccentric studs adjustably mounted in the frame, and a plurality of pressure rollers rotatably mounted on said studs and normally engaging marginal portions' of the table.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,661 Winkler Feb. 25, 1919 1,929,068 Isbell Oct. 3, 1933 2,070,293 Morgan Feb. 9, 1937 2,096,643 Mills Oct. 19, 1937 2,133,750 Mars Oct. 18, 1938 2,166,153 Huck July 18, 1939 2,202,762 Freed May 28, 1940 2,466,968 Ross Apr. 12, 1949 2,556,251 Bell June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,056 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1861 610,860 Germany Mar. 16, 1935 643,313 Germany Apr. 3, 1937 

